Relationships between teat characteristics and udder health. A field survey.

A field survey in 13 Norwegian dairy herds showed a marked increase in teat size and degree of teat canal eversion during a period of six months while most of the cows were still in the same lactation period. There was a statistically significant relationship between the following variables: teat location (front/rear) and teat length, teat shape and teat size, teat end shape and mastitis prevalence, teat end shape and canal eversion, severe teat canal eversion and mastitis prevalence, teat canal eversion and rough/cracked teat canal, teat canal eversion and teat end oedema, teat end oedema and mastitis prevalence. Many young cows had a normal teat orifice or mild teat canal eversions, but also a greater proportion of young cows had distinct or severe teat canal eversions compared with older cows.